#ReadYourWorld

August 06, 2007

You may have been surprised at what we said at our Conference chat, but you probably would not have been. We talked about... you.

We mentioned all the great stuff you do -- from Poetry Fridays to 48 Hour Book Challenge to the 7 Imp's weekend 7 Kicks, to La Bloga's multifacted multicultural book coverage to the Longstocking's multi-talented offerings, to the YaYaYa's library-centric themes, to the Chicago Kidlit Conference and onward. We talked about the Carnival of Children's Literature, WBBT, SBBT, Wicked Cool Overlooked Books, the One Shot World Tour (Best Read With Vegemite!) and more. We talked about your sites, your passion for picture books, your secret plans to take over the kidlitosphere (Oops. Did we say that one out loud?), and your place in the world of book reviews (Exactly where you want to be - wherever that is. Front and center, a little to the left the side, wherever.).

We asked a few questions (not enough, as it turns out) of our small audience, and found that a few of them blog (yes! The very sweet and friendly and down-to-earth Cynthia Leitich Smith was in the houuuuse! And Tamora Pierce. Still gobsmacked about that. Still.) and many more want to get into blogging for whatever reason - to promote their books or to interact with authors -- but they haven't figured out how. We issued a genial invitation that some of them just might take up... or not. Do expect people to drop by and say hello and say they heard about you at SCBWI. Especially if you do author interviews (which seem to be a big draw), were involved with the Cybils, or if you're involved with The Edge of the Forest (And pssst! Don't miss the latest issue!).

We did not talk much about our own blogs -- those weren't the point. We had screen shots of ...yours (quite nice ones, too. I'll send you the slideshow if you ask nicely) and in the sliver of time and space we had - (We wish we'd had so much more time to show all of your blogs! And then again... an hour seemed eternity...) - we put you on display. We had only one hour and fifty-four slides (with this fabulous chalkboard background Gina cooked up for us) but we represented you, quoted you, displayed you and praised you as much as possible.

As one woman asked, "What do you people get out of this?"Um. Nothing. And everything.

People -- you are flippin' awesome.And what you do for books, YA lit, and the kidlitosphere? Ditto.

13 comments:

I would LOVE the slideshow if you'd be willing to share - I am often asked to speak around here on Blogging and Libraries - I may find some new tidbits in there that I didn't know about.....YouthServices@orangecity.lib.ia.usThanks - Becky

Sounds like you guys did an awesome job and had an awesome time. There are such great children's/YA-lit blogs out there, I'm always stunned and extremely flattered when we're singled out. Thanks for the plug!

I didn't meet Cynthia's husband, but she was just sitting there, telegraphing "You Go Girl!" and affection and concern while we were speaking -- so I looked mostly at her, and I didn't even know who she was.

She is amazing, her kindness to the 'jill-come-latelys' of the blogging world is phenomenal.

Who We Are

Wonderland started in 2005 as a collaborative space for our writing group to share news, links, book recommendations, and thoughts on writing for young adults.

Through various alterations, we've still held to our core vision, and we're still hoping to find Wonderland.

Now team-blogging as tanita & aquafortis, we blog to share our enjoyment and celebrate young adult books, especially speculative fiction, adventure, suspense, and graphic novels with diverse characters (including diversity of body/ability, ethnicity, culture, gender, and faith). Click the links to discover more about what makes us who we are and about what we do. You can also visit Tanita on her official author site, and aquafortis on her official author site.

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